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Lessons Learned: Accelerated Public Administration Degrees
July 5, 2005
By Amanda Daflos
Business Programs Columnist
Each week I discuss business programs and hot topics. This week I've decided to impart upon you wisdom that stems from my personal experiences in an accelerated one-year masters of public administration program.
Study whenever you have the time and earn a degree that will get you a better job at University of Phoenix Online.
Consequently, you might think of this as a 'lessons learned' article with the lessons being learned by yours truly during the 2004-2005 academic year in a beautiful and constantly changing city called Denver, Colorado.
Tales from the Accelerated Side
Exactly one year ago, I was wading through acceptance and rejection letters from public administration degree programs around the nation trying to decide what school to attend. The decision process was stressful and involved countless pro and con lists, conversations with people working in public administration jobs, and an extensive review of my goals.
After all, I'd spent years researching master's of public administration (MPA) programs and even more time saving money to pay for my public administration degree. Ultimately, I decided on an accelerated one-year master's of public administration degree program.
Degree and Program Choices
I chose the program because the one-year time commitment and $18,000 price tag made it more reasonable than other programs. It offered a small class size, under 30, and a cohort learning experience. Further, the public policy curriculum was very local in focus and offered an internship in public policy.
Now that I am nearing graduation, however, I've asked myself if I would do it over again, and the answer I keep coming up with is "No." I would not enroll in an accelerated program again.
Accelerated Progams Are Not All Bad
This is not to say that all accelerated programs are bad. It depends on what you are looking for in a public administration degree program. For me, the degree is too rushed. There is no opportunity to become an expert in one specific area. Instead, students work fast and furiously, which some argue is a good test your work input and output endurance.
I personally think the education component is weakened. Many accelerated programs are relatively new and therefore still working out the kinks when it comes to the public policy curriculum, the faculty and billing issues.
In a fast paced program, there is little time for errors as the smallest kinks can have negatively effect your learning experience. As far as public administration jobs go, some career counselors argue that employers view accelerated students as hard working. Personally, I've seen students intimidated by jobs because they feel they aren't sufficiently trained.
Sometimes They Work
Accelerated programs do work for some people. For example, those looking to minimize their opportunity costs and return to the work force in a shorter period of time can do that with an accelerated program.
For me, the experience has left me wanting more education. Ultimately, you should know what kind of experience you want, ask a lot of questions and be sure you understand the public policy curriculum and the public administration jobs that will be available to you!
About the Author
Amanda Daflos is a Weekly Columnist for Business Programs.
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